Physical Health India Project #20786

Palliative Care in Hyderabad

by PAIN RELIEF AND PALLIATIVE CARE SOCIETY

Project Report | Nov 30, 2020
Palliative Care Hyderabad, An update

By JN. Jagannath | President

Providing psychosocial support during home care

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, PRPCS

Palliative care is a nascent branch of medicine yet to take roots in India. Our present health system both in Govt and private sectors has no place for terminally ill end stage patients suffering from cancer etc.

A few NGO s like Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society are bridging this gap by providing this service to such patients. PRPCS today is one of India s largest palliative care service providers offering the whole gamut of services from OP Day Care Home Care and Hospice entirely free of cost in Hyderabad.

We sincerely appeal to each one of you to help us both in creating awareness about palliative care in the community and also support us to ensure that end stage cancer patients spend their last days in peace and comfort free from pain and most importantly die with dignity.

J.N. Jagannath IRTS/Retd

Testimonial

My father was a patient of one of your team's and he passed away last month. I wanted to share a review of the team just as you had asked the last time we spoke (over 45 days ago).

The work done by Venkatesh and team was exceptional. They were invaluable in helping my father live out the last days of his life in relative comfort and peace. From the very first meeting, they were very professional and lived up to the name of caregivers. They were very clear in their communication and explained the situation to us very well. The patient too was very happy with the team and trusted them right after the first visit.

They also helped my family and I to cope with situation as well as the loss that came. They were available even after the patient passed away to help guide us and support us through that difficult time. They prepared us beforehand so that we would do the necessary steps once my father passed.

The team's communication, compassion and understanding helped us deal with this tragic situation and loss with the knowledge that my father was comfortable in his last days. Which is more than anything we could have asked for.

Son of a Patient who recieved home care service

As you are aware, we are going through testing times due to the Coronavirus lock down. After a detailed assessment of the situation, we have decided to keep both the Hospice and Home Care services open albeit in a curtailed manner taking into view the risks involved.

As the situation unfolds, we will make further decisions, but as of now, our home care teams are continuously making visits everyday and attending to phone calls round the clock sometimes of the patients in extreme distress. We are counseling and encouraging such patients to get admitted in our hospice by providing transportation to them in our ambulances.

Alas, cancer patients will continue to require our services as the disease will not take a pause or a lock down, and hence being committed and dedicated health professionals, we have decided to keep our services running even in this crucial period. Our staff have risen up to the occasion and assured us that they are with us in providing care for the end-stage cancer patients which is our main objective.

In fact a number of patients in extreme pain and distress both from home Care and directly after seeing our website are somehow reaching the hospice and we are admitting and taking care of them.

We sincerely hope and pray that the situation will improve in the coming days.

Kumudini Devi Hospice,Kukatpally

This is a 21-bed in-patient facility to take care of patients who are terminally ill, like patients with terminal cancer and their families.The care is provided by a highly skilled team of doctors, nurses, and other support staff.The hospice provides free food for the patient and caregivers in addition to free treatment and medicines. A facility for transportation of dead bodies to their respective homes is also available.The average stay of a patient stay is between 1 and 4 weeks.These are patients for whom no other treatment options are available in our present health care system, both in government and private sectors.

Home based Palliative Care

Home-based palliative care is provided for patients with advanced cancers and other life-limiting conditions living in Hyderabad.Through this program, five vans staffed with doctors, nurses, and social workers visit the houses of patients to provide medical and nursing care and psychosocial support.At any given point in time, there are between 300 to 350 patients registered under this program.The five vans together make 20 home visits every day.

Palliative Care for Children with Cancer

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society in collaboration with MNJIO is one of the leaders in the country in providing unique pain relief and palliative care for the special needs of children with cancer. There is a dedicated team of a full time doctor(Paediatrician), nurse, a counsellor and a children palliative care assistant to take care of children who are admitted in the paediatric ward. We ensure a continuum of care, the same team goes to homes in the community and the hospice and offers 24 hours phone consultancy. We believe that no child should suffer in pain.

Neonatal Palliative Care Services

Neonatal Palliative Care is the care of babies born with life limiting conditions and their families. We offer this service to babies and their families being treated in department of neonatology, Nilofer Childrens Hospital, Hyderabad. Our team consisting of a paediatric palliative care physician, nurses, and counsellors offer medical nursing and psychosocial support to the such newborn babies and their families

Palliative Care program, Government General Hospital, Kurnool.

Palliative care unit in Kurnool is a 10-bed in-patient facility based inside the premises of Government General Hospital, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.The services offered are, in-patient facility of 10 beds, out-patient services and home care service in Kurnool town. The entire services will be offered free of cost.

Breif Summary Report of beneficiaries- January to October 2020

Kumudini Devi Hospice:

No. of admissions – 512

Male- 271

Female- 241

Children- 41

Home Care Program:

Total Number of Registrations- 728

Total visits- 2865

Pediatric Palliative Care Program:

New patients- 141

Patients Review - 1661

Total – 1802

Palliative Care Program, Kurnool:

No. of Admissions: 188

No. of home visits: 323

Behind these figures and statistics lie extraordinary stories of hope, courage, love and compassion. These are not mere patients but are mortal beings who will not go back to their previous lives and have to deal with the ultimate reality of life ending in the near future. To care for such patients calls for qualities which are rarely found among most of us. No words can effectively describe and capture the dedication and selfless service of our staff of Doctors, Nurses, Social workers, Physiotherapists and so many others who work tirelessly and reach out to the patient and their caregivers for providing both care, comfort and dignity in the last stages of their lives.

Medical and Nursing Care in Home care

Home visit during lockdown

Handholding a patient in Hospice

Palliative care for Neonatal children

Palliative care to child with Quadriplegia

Pediatric Palliative Care

Hospice care

Food for survival during lockdown

Premises of Hospice facility

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